Separator for mechanical mixtures of gases.



J. L. BLACK. SEPABATOR PoR MECHANICAL MIXTURES 0F GASES.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB. 19, 1906.

Patented May 13, 1913.

J..L. BLACK.

SEPARATOR FOR MBOHANIGAL MIXTURES 0F GASES.

APPLICATION FILED YEB.19,1908.

Patented May 13, 1913.

4 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

J. L. BLACK. SBPARATOR POR MECHANICAL MIXTURES OF GASES.

`'IPPLIOATIQN FILED TBB.19,1906.

Patented May 13, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

i WM,

IMM J J. L. BLACK. SEPARATOR FOR MECHANICAL MIXTURES 0F GASES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. x9, 190e.

1,061,656, Patented May 13, 1913.

4 SHEET-BHBET 4.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JOSEPH L. BLACK,` OF PALATINE, ILLINOIS.

SEPARATOR FOR MECHANICAL MIXTURES OF GASES.

Specification of LettersTate'nt.

Patented May 13, 191s.

Application led February'lB, 1906.` Serial No. 301,785.

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH L. BLACK, a

citizen of the United States of America, and I resident of Palatine, county of Cook, and

' ent elements', oxygen and nitrogen.

My. specific intention is to separate commercially oxygen from ordinary air, but my 1nvent1on 1s not restricted to such uses,

as the same mechanism, or suitable medidcations thereof, may be used for the separation of other mechanical mixtures of gases, the components whereof are of different densities. t

t My invention utilizes, centrifugal force as the separating agent.

Eight figures of. drawings accompany this specification in which:

Figure 1 shows a vertical section of .a complete separator accordin to my invention, t-he central portion bemg broken out and both ends of the cylinder being shown; Fig. 2. shows 'a horizontal section of the same through its central portion, on the broken line A A of Fig. l, the inner and outer cylinder walls, theradial vanes and the central shaft being shown in section and the edge of the dividing partition being shown in view; Fig. 3 shows a repetition of a portion of the sectional elements shown in Fig. 2, and illustrates a modification of the construction shown by Fig. 2 in the detail of the structure of the `.dial partitions, the solid partitions of Fig. 2 being replaced by hollow partitions in Fig. 3; Fig. 4 repeats the sectional elements of Fig. 2, and illustrates a modification of the construction of the radial partitions, the structure of each being hollow as in Fig. 3 but being further modified by curving. a part thereof; Fig. 5 repeats a portion of Fig. 1 and shows -a porous substance introduced between the baffle plates'to assist in the actionv ofthe bafiieplates; Fig. 6 shows an alternative method of construction as compared with Fig. 1; Fig. 7 shows a multipleunit machine according to my invention, in which the lighter gases as separated by the first unit are passed to the second unit for further separation, the heavier` gases being thrown out from the machine at' each step; Fig. 8 shows a multiple-unit machine according to my invention, in which the heavier gases as separated by the first unit are passed to the second unit` forY further separation, the lighter gases being thrown out from the machine at each step.

Referring to Fig. 1 for a description of the parts ofthe device as illust-rated in that figure; 1 is a lshaft upon which lthe separator is built, v2 being structural webs supporting the outer parts of the revolving cylander; the revolving cylinderconsists of an inner shell 3, and an outer shell 4, rigidly connected (first) by radial partitions 5, 5

extending nearly throughout the length o the cylinder, (second) by batlie plates 6, 6, 6, 6, in the upper or inlet end of the cylinder, and (third) by spiral vanes, 7, 7, 7, 7, at the bottom or outlet end of the cylinder. A cylindrical dividing partition 8 lies within thecylinder between the inner and outer shells, being rigid with the spiral vanes` and with the lower ends ofthe radial partitions, 5, 5.

The cylinder is supported by a cone bearing between the shaft 1 and the fixed stud 9, at the upper end, and by a journal bearing between the outer shell of the cylinder and the fixed hollow journal bearing10, at the lower end. The downward thrust of the cylinder is carried by the adjustable stud 11, with its locknut. The cylindrical dividing partitionV 8 projects downwardly into the hollow bearing, 10, and a tubular duct 12 registers with it, thus providing two exits, each. of annular section, for the contents of theA cylinder, one lying between the shaft 1 and Ithe dividing partition 8 and passing downwardly throu h the journal to findcutlet through the the other lying between the dividing partition 8 and the outer shell 4 and passing downwardly, through the journal to find outlet through the duct 10. The cylinder is revolved by the belt 13, which is-shown as utilizing as a pulley surface, a portion of the exterior surface of the outer shell 4.

Inlet for the mixed gases to the interior of the cylinder is shown at 14, bein an opening through the outer shell 4 o the cylinder, the openin being conical; a conlcal plug 15 is threa ed upon the fixed stu'd 9 to lit the conical opening 14, and then 1s uct 12, and

withdrawn by turning the cone 15 back on the stud 9 to permit theintlux' ofthe desiredquantity of the' mixed gases. In the illustration, an apparatus for the separation of ordinary air is' shown, and no special device for bringing the-air to the' inlet aperture isrovided, although such may be accomplis ed in any well known manner, if the compound to be separated is other than 10 the air in which the cylinder revolves.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will rbeseen that 'between the radial partitions 5, 5, are formed cells 16,-16, 16, of rectangular -cross section.

These are the cells in which the separation of the mixture is eiected.`

The operation of the device as illustrated in Figs; 1 and 2 is as follows: The cylinder is revolved rapidly by the belt 13, or by any other suitable means, and by that motion the air in thecells 16, 16, 16 is sub ,ected to centrifugal force, resulting in the separation of the gaseous mixture into its component part-s lor gases,

'thrown' Voutward against vthe wall of the outer shell 4 and the lighter gases being left closer to the wall of the inner shell 3. At thcsame time, the effect of the spiral vanes 7, 7, is to draw the contents of the cylinder downwardly and to discharge them through the journal 10 and outlet duct 10'; in this downward movement of the contents of the cylinder, the separating partition 8 (so named'` herein because ofthe nature of vits use) divides the contents of the lcylinder into two annular downwardly flowing masses, one being the mass of heavy gas thrown by 'centrifugal force to the outer portion of each of the separating cells16, 16, 16, and the' vother mass being the. mass of lighter gases 40 forced in the separating action to the'mner portion of each of the separating .cells. These downwardly flowing masses of separated lgases pass out through the ducts 10 and 12, respectively.

The drawing away of' the contained gases by the spiral vanes, 7, 7 ,continuously sucks the mixed gases through the inlet 14, thus makin the process a continuous one. an ad 'tional aid to theA movement of the air *throught 'the cylinder, rally disposed vanes on the outside ofthe cylinder near the opening 14, these being so disposed as to force the outer air into this v opening, and thence through the air passage 5 as already described. Justwithin the inlet 14, are placed the baille-plates, 6, 6, 6, the object of which is to subdue the eddies in the mixed. gases, which.would ensue from the current through the entrance into the cylinder, andto permit the mixed gases to pass as smoothly as possible into the separating cells, 16, 16, 16, 16. These bathe-plates@ also l have thepdesirable effect of slowing down the f movement the heavier gases beingl I7 may place spie# l of the air intothe cylinder, so- 5 that the downward passage of the air or othergases through the'chamher 5, will be relatively :slow in comparison with the rotary motion. By this means the downwardly passingl column of air in the chamber 5 may be made subject to manyrevolutions of the cylinder before the upperedge of the dividing partition is reached, Vand thus the separation ofthe gases madevmore complete than would be thecase if vthe movement of the gases throughthe chamber were too rapid. In order to more completely lbreak up the eddy currents', and to varyv the speed of the gases at will, I may employ in addition to the bathe-plates 6,6, a packing" of mineral wool, or of some other fibrous material between the bathe-plates; the'baiiie-plates may be made of wire gauze of any desired iincness of mesh, instead of t-heperforated sheet metal plates asv shown. i

In order to allow as much time as possible for the separation of the vgases before the dividing partition 8 is' reached, I make the cylinder very long in proportion to its diameter, so that theair willbe subjected to many revolutions before. itgreaches thispartition. In this casetheair-maybe admitted more rapidly andthe samedegree of separation attained than wouldbein the case of a shorter cylinder.

In Fig. 3 is shown 'a 4preferred form of construction for the radial partitions 5, 5, 5, each partition being formed of two walls 5', 5 of light sheet metal, the wedge of space thus inclosed being sealed 1 to prevent the circulation of gases through, it.

In Fig. 4 is shown 'a1 structural form of the partitions between the separating cells. In somev cases :I prefer to employ the cross section shown4 in Fig. 4 in" that portion of the revolving cylinder nearest the intake 14, andthe cross section employing strictly rectangularcells, such as are shown in Figs. 2

and 3, at that portion of the cylinder nearest the outlet.. The employment of a cross section having slightly curved vanes in the cylinder nearest the point of entrance of the air, aids inthe drawing in of the air.

. In Fig. 5 is` shown a detail of the bailleplates shown in Fig. 1, the spaces between the battle, plates being, as .has Aalready been described, shown filled through which the 'gas mixture may -percolate, such as mineral wool, asbestos, curled hair, cotton or the like. `Such a material would eiectually break up'the eddies caused by the .passage of the mixed gas into the cylinder, vand would 'assure the rotational speed of the separating cells 16, 16.

In Fig. 6 1s shown a machine constructed with a material 17,

themixture before it is passed into I 24; t-heinclosing case 24 contains two chambers 25 and 26, in one of which, 25, is mounted the separating cylinder 21. The pulley 27 is mounted upon the tubular shaft 20, and the separating cylinder is driven by the belt 28. 'Ihe mix'ed gases are drawn in through the upper end of the tubular shaft 20, the influx being governed by the conical adjustable plug 29. The tubular shaftl is plugged at 30, and the mixed gases pass from the t-ubular shaft through the openings 31, 31 1nto the separating cylinder, thence through the baffle-plates 32, 32 into the separating cells inclosed by the radial partitions 33, 33.' The baille-plates 32, 32 are held in place by the rings 34, 34, all .being released for inspection or removal by taking ofi' the screw cap 35; fibrous or pervious material as heretofore described, may be placed between the baflie-plates if so desired. When the machine is in operation, the heavier gases are blown by the centrifugal force through the openings 36, 36, into the chamber 25, and thence, by the pressure of the infiowing gas, through 36, 36, tending to flow through the cock 37; the lighter gases are .dmjvn by, the spiralJ vanes to the lower end of the separating cylinder, where they are forced through the openings 22, 22, into the tubular shaft, findln vent, into the chamber 26, and thence 4t ey tend to flow through cock 40. It will be seen that the stop cocks 37 and 40 re ulate the amount of g`as permitted to flow t rough the openings 36, 36 and 22, 22, respectively, and thereby may be a controlling' element in the degree of separation attained by the machine.

In Fig. 7 is.shown a multiple unit machine, the successive chambers, 50, 51, 52, containing each an exact duplicate of the separating cylinder of Fig. 6, the cylinders beingq all built upon one tubular shaft. In the operation of this multiple-unit machine,

' the mixed gas passes into the'upper end of the shaft, undergoes one separatlon in the separating cylinder of chamber 50, the heavie'r gas being thrown out into the chamber 50 and the lighter gas being passed back into ythe tubular shaft and through into the separating cylinder of chamber 51 where 'a second separation or refinement occurs, the heavier constituents being' thrown out into chamber 51, and the lighter gas passed back .into the tubular shaft, and thence through the separating cylinder of chamber 52 in similar manner, the thrice refined lighter gas finally being available through the cock in chamber 53. By use of theicocks provided for various chambers, 50, 51, 52, 53, the separation in the three separating cylinders may be controlled to a great degree.

In Fig. 8 is shown a modification designed l larating cells being substantially grams in cross section, substantia y as de- 4 for mixe to refine continuously the heavier gas of the compound.` In this machine the mixture enters in the same manner as in the previously described machines, but in passing from this cylinder the lighter gas is drawn by the spiral vanes 61, 61 and passes through the radlal tubes 62, 62, into the chamber 63, while the heavier gas is drawn by similar spiral vanes, 64, to the bottom of the cylinder and there forced through the holes into the tubular shaft, thence passing to the second separating cylinder 65 in chamber 66; in the same manner as in cylinder 60, the lighter gas is passed into chamber 66 and the heavier gas is passed into the tubular shaft, and thence into the succeeding scpa rat-ing cylinder 67 where another separation or refinement occurs, the lighter component being passed into the chamber 68, and the heavier gas, now thrice refined, lis passed into the chamber 69, whence it may flow through the cock shown.

It has been found in practice that with a revolving drum having a radius of forty centimeters and a rotating speed of one thousand revolutions per minute the best results are obtained when applied to the constituents of coal gas; a higher speed of rotation will of course effect a more complete separation. With a drum of smaller radius the mechanical difficulties due to lack of strength of structural materials are lessened; with a revolving drum six inches if diameter and properly designed bearings a speed of 15,000 revolutions per minute may be obtained, with an evenmore complete mechanical separation of gases than in the case of theA larger drumy above cited. p

-Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a centrifugal gas-separatingdevice,

ibo

a rotating cylinder, an inlet to said cylinder l for mixed gases, two outlets for se arated gases,separating cells in said cylin er, and wedge-shaped partitions between said separating cells, substantially as described.

2. In a centrifugal gas-separating device, a rotating cylinder, an inlet to said cylinder for mixed gases, two outlets for separated gases, separating cells in said cylinder, and partitions between said separating cells, said partitions being wedge-shaped and said separalleloscribed. y

3. In a centrifugal gas-separating device, a rotatin cylinder, an inlet to. said cylinder gases, separating cells in said cylinder, and

gases, two` outlets for separatedv partitions between said separatin cells, said cells being 'radial and the two si es of each of said cells being parallel, substantially as described. v 4. In a centrifugal glas-separating device,

Y parallel sides for -said scribed.

cylinder for each of a plurality of separated gases. longitudinal partitlon walls in said cylinder, said walls being approximately r'adial, longitudinal s eparatlng cells formed by said walls, each. of said cells being formed imately parallel, subby wall-surfaces approx stantlally as described.

5. In a centrifugal gas-separatingdevice, a rotating cylinder, an inlet to saidcylinder' for mixed gases, a separate outlet from said cylinder for .each of a plurality of separated gases, separating cells in said'rcylinder, and partitions between said separating cells, said partitions 'being' wedge-shaped yand, forming separating cells, substantially as described.

. -6. In a centrifugal gasfseparatingdefvice, a separating cylinder, means for revolving said cylinder upon itsaxis, an inlet into said separating cylinder consisting of a circular opening concentric with the axis of said cylinder', and a stationary but 'y adjustable obstruction befo're said inletopening to regulate Y. the flow of gas, substantially as de- 7-. In a centrifugal gas-.sepa ating device, means for revolving. said cylinder u pon its axis,l an inlet into said separating cylinder consisting of a circular opening concentric with the axis of rotation of said cylinder, and an adjustable means for .controlling the low'of gas through said 1nlet opening, said means consisting of adjustable but normally motionless lpartsmounted at the inlet lto said cylinder but not integral with said cylinder, substantially as described.

8. In a centrifugal gas-separating device,

a separating cylinder, means for drivingv said lby eddies in thein separating cylinder, separating cells in said cylinder, an inlet for gases into said cylin.

der fand thence lntosaid separating cells,

and baille plates in said separating cylinder whereby'eddies in the iniowing current of gases may be subdued before the inflowing gases enter the separating cells, as described.

9. In a centrifugal gas-separating device, a separating cylinder,- means for driving said separating cylinder, separating cells in said -cyl?inder,an lnlet for gases into said cylinthence into said,` separating cells, 4

der and and means in` said-se arating cylinder whereowing current of gases may be broken up before `the inflowing gases enter the separating cells, substantially as described.

10. In a centrifugal gas-separating device, a separating cylinder, separating cells in said cylinder, an inlet for gases into said cylinder andcells, Vand means whereby eddies in the 'inflowing `current of' gases yare broken up, substantially as described.

- 11, In a centrifugal gas separatingdevice,

radial partitions concentric, parti: for dividing the a rotating hollow cylinder, in 'said hollow'A cylinder, a tion within said cylinder centrifugally separated j gases, an inlet vto said cylinder for mixed gases, two outlets from said cylinderfor said separated gases, and means for rotating said cylinder at high speed, substantially as described.

Sioned-by me at Chicago, county of Cook, .and tate of Illinois, in the presence of two witnesses. y

'JOSEPH L. BLACK.v `Witnesses:

KEMrsTEEB. MILLER, EVA A. GAkLocx.

substantially 

